The Expendables: Rumble in the Jungle

Chapter 1: Guerrilla warfare is the best type of warfare

Guerrilla warfare is the best type of warfare, thought elite Marine Lee Christmas, he was scoping with his R7 sniper rifle on a patrol unit less than 400 clicks to the north, and he was lying on a branch of a massive tree using the leaves and his ghillie suit for camouflage.

There came a sharp crackle and a deep whisper, "You dead yet boy?" Came his units Sniper's voice, with a voice like coiled thunder Gunner Jensen was a very intimidating foe, Christmas always wondered why such a big guy like Gunner was a sniper.

Gunner and Christmas were assigned by their Unit Commander Barney Ross to spot the rebel base, Gunner didn't like the idea of working with Christmas and the feeling was like wise, however Christmas knew when to take the piss and when to be serious.

"I was just about to ask you the same question Jensen," Christmas muttered into his radio, "I still don't know why I'm playing sitting bird while you run about, it should be the other way round, how they haven't found you yet beats me."

"Ha well don't underestimate me kid, I've been doing this longer than you," Gunner replied mockingly, Christmas hated it when the big guy called him boy, fair enough when Gunner was younger he had been a crack shot and as silent as a ninja. "Just keep quiet and you will be fine, I haven't lost all my wits yet."

Christmas shook his head and followed a truck that had just entered the rebel base, he zoomed in on the driver, he was surprised to learn that the driver was English, now why was an English man in the depths of the Amazon Rain forest with a bunch of rebel Terrorists.

"We got visitors unless you haven't noticed." Christmas muttered as the truck stopped and twenty African men came out with three white men tied up from the back, the driver was lighting up a cigar, suddenly something caught Christmas's eye, he zoomed in on the lighter, it was silver and had a tribal symbol on hit, it was a tribal star behind a letter E.

"Gunner can you see the driver's lighter?" Christmas asked curiously zooming in more and more on the lighter which he could have sworn he had seen before.

"Forget that boy im more interested in the three hostages." Gunner replied with a grunt, Christmas moved his scope away from the driver and fixed on the three hostages who were kneeling down in a line with their hands to their heads.

"Shit they are going to execute them." Christmas cried, turning the safety off of his rifle.

"Fuck that," Gunner grunted, Christmas then heard a gun being cocked through the radio, "whatever you do don't blow your cover, there's some one following us boy, I've just seen foot prints that have been following me."

Chris though about that, he looked over his shoulder expecting to see some one behind him, all he saw was the endless jungle.

He picked up his radio and put it to his mouth, "should we abort and send in an Assault team?"

"All we are is surveillance, just stay in your position, I'm going to had back to my spot and see who's following me."

Christmas picked his rifle and scoped in on the three hostages, each of them had been gagged, one had a dragon tattoo on his right arm the other two looked like college kids.

Christmas focused on a new figure that had emerged from a tent, oh shit thought Christmas.

"Gunner can you see this?" He cried, focusing his scope on the new figure's face.

"No why what is it?"

Arthur Kane."

Arthur Kane was a American Elite Marine, used for special and secret missions, he was a top marksman and boxer, he was Commander of a Secret Services Tactical team known as the Expendables with Trench, Tool and Barney Ross whom was now in command of the group.

Kane had gone awol and became a Terrorist after a disagreement with a CIA operative, in recent years he was known for a Terrorist attack at a Airport, almost three hundred people died that day and Kane had disappeared for ten years, now it seemed he was back.

"Are you serious, Arthur Kane?" Gunner's voice crackled through the radio.

"Yes, I'd know that face any where." Christmas replied, he could remember that day, the Expendables were removed from the Army and had to become hired gunmen.

Christmas watched Kane walk round the hostages with a Desert Eagle in his hand, he slowly strolled behind all three and pulled up the gun to the back of their heads.

Shit, Christmas thought as three gun sounds shot through the Jungle, what followed was a incredible silence, the gun fire still an through Christmas's ears but was immediately pounded by the crushing silence, it was to quiet thought Christmas.

"Alright Gunner let's get out." Christmas muttered into his radio.

No answer came from his radio, no rough deep voice of mocking, and no grunt of approval, just nothing.

"Gunner stop fucking around im being serious!" Christmas shouted, a twig snapped behind him, he kept still.

Slowly he pulled out his Fairbairn-Sykes throwing knife, as quiet as the shadows around him he picked himself up, he would leave the sniper here, it would cost him time due to its weight.

Slowly he watched a shadow of a man move beneath him, he was more than fifteen in the air on this branch, thank fully the man who had been searching for him had not noticed him.

He quietly let his rope fall to the floor, as quiet as a snake on the hunt he slid down to the floor, landing less than three paces from his stalker.

The man was a tall African man, he had a tattoo of a tiger on his arms, in his hands he held an AK 47, two thoughts came into Christmas's head, either this man just coincidentally plundered into his sniping spot or he knew exactly where to go.

Christmas took out his M9 Pistol from his back pocket, he needed answers, he cocked the gun and placed the barrel behind the mans head.

"Don't move." Christmas whispered, placing his knife on the man's neck. "Drop the gun."

The man nodded and dropped his weapon to the floor.

"How did you know I was here?" Christmas asked, gently curving the knife away from the mans neck and to his pistol holder on his right thigh.

"I was told to patrol here…" The man answered as Christmas slipped his knife through the strapping and let the pistol fall to the floor harmlessly.

"Who told you?" Christmas interrupted pushing the barrel into the mans skull.

"The Leader, the leader told me to," the man stammered, "Please I have a family."

"Kill him Christmas." Came a grunt from behind the two men

Christmas turned to see Gunner standing behind them, in his hands he held his .50 calibre Barrett sniper rifle.

In the confusion the man tried his luck and ran, Christmas faster than lighting swerved away from Gunner and flicked his knife into the air where it landed in the back of the head of the man.

Christmas watched the man slump to the floor, dead before his face smacked the cold jungle floor, and Christmas gulped and wiped his brow with his hand and made his way to get the knife.

"I knew it." Gunner said, Christmas stood still, he sounded pleased.

"About what?" Christmas asked, as he pulled the knife from the mans skull.

"That you're a stone cold killer."

Christmas smiled and turned to face Gunner, he shook his head and sighed.

"We are all killers you crazy fool," Christmas joked, and walked past Gunner and pulled down his rifle and his rope. "Maybe your mind is going after all."

"No, you and me we are not like the others, we know what needs to be done." Gunner muttered and he walked past Christmas and patted him on the shoulder then carried on walking.

Christmas sighed and followed the big guy, they needed to get back to the Expendable base of operations in the jungle, they had moved here less than a week ago on a job, today they were going to survey the area and take notes, Christmas had found all he needed and Ross would love every detail of the story.